According to Campingship, 17 km north of Pontedaume is the largest city on the coast of Rias Altas, the main center of shipbuilding in Spain. and one of the country’s largest naval bases, Ferrol. Ferrol is located on the banks of the estuary of the Khubia River. Of the city’s attractions, one can single out the Old Town, the modern district of La Magdalena, the complex of the naval base of La Cortina with impressive walls (18th century) and the castles of San Felipe and La Palma, which were built in the 16th and 17th centuries to protect the city on both sides of the estuary. Ferrol can also offer tourists several beaches stretching to Cape Priore along the rocky coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where you can relax. Of these, the beaches of Doninos (Doninos beach) and San Jurjo stand out. (San Xurxo beach), which are awarded the Blue Flag. This part of the coast is open to the winds and the sea is restless here, so windsurfers and surfers love to relax here. Behind the cape of Cabo Prior near the city of Valdovino, stretch the beaches of Fruheira (Praia de Frouxeira) and Pantin (Praia de Pantin), where an international surfing championship is held annually in September. The beaches have a developed infrastructure with restaurants, cafes, camping, parking, showers and a rescue service.
The resort town of Sedeira is located 38 km north of the city of Ferrol. (Cedeira). Here is the picturesque Magdalena beach (Praia de Magdalena), it is also worth taking a walk along the city promenade, visiting the fishing port and the ancient fort. In addition, from here you can go on a trip along the spurs of the Cantabrian mountains of the Sierra de Capelada (Sierra de Capelada), which border the coast. Nearby is the chapel of San Andrés de Teijido., which, before the construction of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, was the main place of pilgrimage in Galicia. It was erected in the Middle Ages in honor of the Apostle Andrew. According to legend, every person should visit the chapel, and if he does not have time to do this during his lifetime, then his soul will definitely come here after death. The path to the chapel is bordered by mounds of stones left here by pilgrims. According to legend, the stones should speak on Judgment Day and tell about who visited this place and who did not. Be sure to visit the observation deck of Garita-Herbeira on a 600-meter coastal cliff, which offers a breathtaking view.
East along the coast are the two northernmost points of the Iberian Peninsula – Cape Ortegal (Cabo Ortegal) and the Estaco de Bares Peninsula (Estaco de Bares peninsula). This is the place where the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay meet. Tourists are attracted here primarily by the picturesque views that open from the coastal cliffs: endless expanses of water and shores indented by narrow bays, surrounded by spurs of the Cantabrian Mountains. Both capes are excellent places for bird watching, as hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop here in late summer and early autumn. Between Cape Ortegal and the Estaco de Bares peninsula, the vast bay of Ria de Santa Marta de Ortigueira stretches along the shores of which sandy beaches stretch. Among them, the beaches of Santo Antonio (Pria de Santo Antonio) and Morousos stand out. (Playa de Morouzos), awarded the Blue Flag. The fishing villages of Ortigueira and Barqueiro are also worth visiting in this region.
Further east, on the estuary of the Landro River, lies the city of Viveiro, which boasts not only beaches, but also its architectural monuments. In the Old Town of Vivero, the remains of medieval fortifications and three gates have been preserved, among which are the gates of Charles V with the coats of arms of monarchs, the kingdom and the city, the Romanesque churches of Santa Maria (12th century) and San Pedro (10th century) and the monastery of San Francisco (14th century). Be sure to visit the observation deck, located on top of Mount San Roque, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the coast. The most popular beaches of Vivero are the beaches of Covas (Praia Covas) and Area (Praia Area) with a length of several kilometers with a developed infrastructure. During the summer they are overcrowded with tourists. If you want to relax in silence, then Portonovo beach on the outskirts of the city will suit you. 6 km from Vivero on an area of 32 thousand square meters. m stretches the oldest eucalyptus forest in Europe – Souto da Ritorta. Some trees reach a height of 80 m. Hiking trails are laid through the forest.
If you are tired of sandy beaches and the sun, then you can go to the towns of Lorenza and Mondonedo located a few kilometers from the coast in mountain valleys , which are stopping points on the pilgrimage Way of St. James. Lorenzana has a 10th century Benedictine monastery of San Salvador with a museum of religious art. The city of Mondoñedo was the capital of Galicia in the past. Of interest here is the Cathedral of San Martino, which was built between the 13th and 18th centuries and is now a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles. The museum of religious art located in the cathedral is considered one of the largest in Spain.
Also not far from Vivero in the town of Servo (Cervo) Worth a visit to the Sargadelos Ceramic Factory. It was founded in the early 19th century. Ceramic products produced from white clay at the factory are considered among the most beautiful in Spain.
The final destination on the journey along the Rias Altas coast is the resort town of Ribadeo, located near the border with the autonomous region of Asturias. Ribadeo is located in the estuary of the river Eo. It is famous for its beaches, which stretch in the western part of the city. The beaches have everything you need for a comfortable stay: bars and cafes, changing rooms, showers, rescue services and parking lots. Ribadeo has one of the most picturesque beaches in Galicia – the 1.5-kilometre Catedrais (Praia de Catedrais). It is surrounded by stone arches, which were carved into the rocks by the forces of the wind and waters of the Bay of Biscay. The promenade stretches along the entire beach. Next door is another popular beach – Los Castros, awarded the Blue Flag. At low tide, the beach is connected by a narrow strip of sand to Das Illas. In the vicinity of these two beaches, you will find many more small cozy bays where you can have a great rest. In addition, in Ribadeo there is an information center for the Biosphere Reserve Rio Eo Osco y Terras de Buron (Rio Eo, Osco y Terras de Buron Biosphere Reserve). The reserve is located on the border of the regions of Galicia and Asturias on an area of 160 thousand hectares. It is designed to protect the biodiversity of the mouth and basin of the Eo River, which flows into the Bay of Biscay, and the rivers flowing nearby. The Estuary of the Eo is the largest salmon fishing center in Spain. In addition, many birds live here.
On the other side of A Coruña lies the desert coast of the Costa de Morte (“Coast of Death”), which the Spaniards call “the edge of the world”. The journey along the “Coast of Death” begins in the village of Caion, whose beaches Caracoleiro and Barranan are popular among surfers.
A little to the west along the coast stretches the 4-kilometer Baldaio beach (Praia de Baldaio), surrounded by sand dunes. In addition to being awarded the Blue Flag, the beach is known for its abundance of seabirds, including Europe’s largest colony of plover. Mount Neme rises above Baldaio, from which you can see almost the entire coast of the Costa de Morte.
Further west is the port town of Malpica de Bergantinos. The waters here are turbulent, during the winter months stormy weather is often observed and ships cannot leave the harbor, while in the summer the local shores attract surfers. On the main city beach Mayor (Praia Maior) A surf championship is held annually during the summer months. Be sure to visit Cape Santo Adrian, where the chapel of Santo Adrian do Mar and the observation deck are located, from where you can see the Sisagras islands adjacent to the coast. The islands can be reached by boat. Between September and October, many migratory birds stop at the Sisagras Islands. In addition, not far from Malpica de Bergantinhos, the ancient Pedra de Arca dolmen has been preserved.